Leadership
WACA is overseen by a member-nominated and elected Board of Trustees (board members, trustees). Board members are elected to two-year terms. Per our bylaws, the board is comprised of three retail license-holders, three producer/processors, a licensed lab, associate member representative and a Founder Emeritus.
WACA's board is a working board, volunteering their time, insight and resources in service to the association and the sector at large. Individual board members are responsible for leading four working committees comprised of WACA members: Finance, Nominations/Membership, Bylaws, and Events/Community Relations. In addition to overseeing the general business of the association, board members serve at the policy direction of WACA members.
Becca Burghardi
Board of Trustees President - Tier 3 Producer/Processor
Becca started her career in 2015 as an entry-level packaging associate for Northwest Cannabis Solutions. Her sharp, solution-oriented mind, business acumen, and pure charisma quickly stood out to the company, and she is now the Vice President of Compliance and Packaging for NWCS.
Becca holds a combined Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Geochemistry from the Evergreen State College. She is passionate about preserving and promoting efficacious cannabis businesses. She is excited to continue advocating for reasonable cannabis regulations, working with regulatory and legislative bodies, and protecting Washington's budding cannabis industry.
Andy Brassington
Board of Trustees Vice President - Tier 3 Processor
With over 30 years of hands on experience with business ownership and operations, finance, and legal, Andy’s diverse professional background is a valuable resource for WACA. As the cannabis industry tackles a wide range of legislative and regulatory issues, Andy brings a seasoned perspective on the complexities of the nascent industry that will help shape and strengthen WACA initiatives.
Andy’s business and entrepreneurial achievements represent success in traditional industries, trade associations and today, in cannabis. Andy is President of Evergreen Herbal, which has been twice recognized as one of the 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies by the Puget Sound Business Journal. Prior to establishing Evergreen Herbal, Andy was acknowledged for his business acumen and leadership. He is a three-time Governor-appointed delegate to trade missions to China (twice) and Mexico, and Andy’s pre-cannabis companies have been on the INC 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies List. Andy attended law school at Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, and the University of Puget Sound Law School in Tacoma, Washington. He passed the Washington State Bar Exam in 1988 and served for 12 years as a member of the Law Clerk Board of the Washington State Bar Association, including as Chair.
Andy’s personal interests are as wide-ranging as his businesses. He enjoys travel, ski racing, rowing crew, running, and spending time with his wife, two daughters, son in law and grandson.
Jordan Zager
Board of Trustees - Producer/Processor
Jordan Zager, PhD is a renowned figure in the cannabis industry and a visionary in plant genetics and breeding. As the CEO of Dewey Cannabis Co., Dr. Zager leads a dedicated team focused on advancing cannabis science through meticulous genetic research and innovative cultivation practices. His work, particularly in the realm of developing powdery mildew resistant cannabis varieties, has set new standards in the industry. With a robust academic background and extensive experience in commercialization, Dr. Zager brings a wealth of knowledge to the Washington CannaBusiness Association board of directors. His expertise in genetic research and commitment to sustainable practices are instrumental in shaping the future of cannabis cultivation and production in Washington state. Under his leadership, Dewey continues to push the boundaries of cannabis science, making significant contributions to the industry’s growth and sustainability. Dr. Zager’s role on the board underscores his commitment to fostering a regulated, safe, and innovative cannabis market.
Troy Peterson
Board of Trustees - Retail
Born in Spokane, Washington, Troy is a seasoned business professional and entrepreneur with decades of experience launching, growing and expanding family-owned businesses. Born in Spokane, Troy grew up working with his family. He attended Washington State University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in business with an emphasis in information systems.
Alongside his wife, Stacey, the Petersons founded Apex Cannabis and their first two shops were opened a week apart in September 2016. The third – and flagship – Apex Cannabis location launched in September 2018 at Apex Plaza on Division in Spokane. A separate shop, Apex Cannagear, which carries glass, goods, gear and hemp-based CBD products opened simultaneously. For the Petersons, cannabis is not only a business opportunity, but represents a journey for their family. Stacey and Troy saw firsthand the benefits of medical cannabis for Stacey’s dad after he developed pancreatic cancer, the same disease that took Troy’s father years earlier.
Troy comes to the WACA Board of Directors experienced in oversight and strategic guidance after stints as a Board Member and eventually President of the Washington Collectors Association from 2001-2006. He and Stacey have been active members of WACA, attending association events and Days-of-Action in Olympia since entering the industry. He looks forward to continuing to contribute and serve as a member of the WACA board.
Amber Vaughn
Board of Trustees - Labs/Transporters
BIO COMING SOON
Russell E. Rosendal
Associate Member Representative
Russell has been the President/CEO of Salal Credit Union since 2012, having previously served Salal as Chief Financial Officer beginning in 2008. A proven strategic, high integrity, energetic leader, he is a passionate advocate for credit unions and their members. Before coming to Salal, Russell was the Vice President of the Finance, Planning and Analysis Group/Home Loans for Washington Mutual. Prior to Washington Mutual, he was Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer and corporate secretary at Foundation Bank in Bellevue and Executive Vice President/Chief Financial Officer and corporate secretary at Cascade Bank in Everett.
Russell earned a Master of Business Administration from City University in Seattle and a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Washington. He lives in Kirkland with his family.
Shea Hynes
Board of Trustees - Retail
BIO COMING SOON
Scott Atkison
Board of Trustees - Retail
BIO COMING SOON
Ian Eisenberg
Board of Trustees - Retail
Ian Eisenberg, President of Uncle Ike’s Pot Shops, is a Seattle businessman with a rich history of startups. Past companies include USNetwork Inc a licensed long distance carrier, Blue Frog Media, a wireless entertainment firm and Zevia, an all natural soda company. Eisenebrg has been an active participant in Washington I502 cannabis industry since its inception in 2013.
Ryan Hamlin
Associate Member Representative
Ryan Hamlin has over 34 years of software development and management experience. He currently is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of POSaBIT (www.posabit.com), a leading Point of Sale and Payments company for the Cannabis industry. POSaBIT is a publicly traded company on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE:PBIT). Prior to POSaBIT, he founded PlaceFull, an online booking and eMarketing platform. PlaceFull was recently sold to Retail Management Hero, a point-of-sale provider for small businesses. From 1995 to 2010 he was an executive at Microsoft, managing 1,000+ person teams and over $500 million in revenue, and from 1990 to 1994 he was a senior systems analyst at Andersen Consulting. He has also served on several start-up and larger non-profit boards. Mr. Hamlin has a B.A. and B.S., Business & Computer Science, from Pacific Lutheran University.
Bethany Rondeaux
Board of Trustees - Producer/Processor
BIO COMING SOON